It is immensely sad what you had to face growing up ‘gaijin’ in Japan. I am not sure if I can compare but unfortunately, most traditional societies are pretty insular and unwelcoming to outsiders even when the immigrants do their best to adopt. Children in particular can be exceedingly harsh, lacking the filters that adults are capable of wearing. We often do not realize or acknowledge that racism is prevalent in most countries in the world, and the focus tends to be on discriminatory treatment of non-whites in western countries. Also unfortunate is the fact that caucasians are treated differently but in a ‘good way’, as you so rightly point out:

The Japanese stared at them too, but in a good way. They gawked at them like starstruck fans.

My husband’s white co-worker and his family were repeatedly requested to pose for photographs with locals when visiting China. I have seen the same reverential treatment of whites growing up in India in spite of (or precisely due to?) the colonial history. On the other hand, the offhand treatment of non-white visitors and bias against its own population with darker skin tone is a well known fact about India. The only thing I would say is that in my multiple trips to Japan (on business and with family), I have sensed mostly indifference and anonymity in the cities and the suburbs, but then I was a mere visitor and not one living an everyday life.